Tell me this!!

[LtBlondie]

Please tell me..all of you officers..are you going INTO the structure fires with your crews?? OR are you mobile command!! Please stick with the first option.... :)

[firefighter26]

There is a difference between being an Officer and being THE Officer; as in IC (incident commander), or OIC (Officer in charge).

When I was an acting LT I found myself on the nozzle and leading attacking lines fairly often, but only because I wasn't the IC/OIC. Other, more senior officers, where on scene doing that job. So as a junior officer, or line officer (as apposed to a company officer, I think those are the correct terms), I was supposed to be on the line.

If I was the IC/OIC, then obviously being on a line isn't the best place for me. Its hard to make command decisions based on the BIG PICTURE when you are getting your hands dirty working (everyone gets tunnel vision now and then).

Like many things in the fire service, there isn't a cut and dry, yes or no, right or wrong, answer.

I would say it all depends on the sitation, staffing levels, experience and a number of other factors.

[ABFF37]

Please tell me..all of you officers..are you going INTO the structure fires with your crews?? OR are you mobile command!! Please stick with the first option.... :)

The first arriving captain at a major incident assumes command. He will never get out of the truck and get his hands dirty...not his job. He stays in the pump on the mobile radio and the portable radio on the tac channel, speaks with dispatch, talks to incoming apparatus, and makes the necessary command decisions (next incoming pump to get a hydrant and from where...where the aerial will stage and begin setting up...what he wants the crew off the first in rescue to do etc.)

Once the district chief arrives, the captain IC will move over to the chiefs van which is the mobile command post. From there the two of them will run the call. It is not practical, appropriate, or safe to have everyone rush into the burning building. Proper fireground command will keep certain company officers and chief officers out of the action, and staged in a suitable location to monitor and run the call.

Lieutenants on the other hand may end up going in on a line with a crew, or they may be assigned as sector officers to help organize and manage a specific task. Say ventilation, SCBA control, stuff like that.

I've been on many a call where all hell is breaking loose outside, and all the firefighters and lieutenants are running around working hard to get the situation under control...while the captain calmly sits in the pump or in the district chief van. That is his job, and that's exactly where he belongs to keep command of the call and watch out for us to keep us all safe!

AB

[DCCHam]

I agree with 'FF26'....in a perfect situation where our Chief is IC and all of our other officers are there, then we usually run one D/C as Interior Operations, the other D/C as Exterior Operations, while the Captains are either on the line with the crews, with the crews conducting searches, ventilation, Water Supply Operations, and so on.

We run on the command system where it's only (usually) officers that give the IC the status reports and saves alot of uneeded radio chatter to the IC.

[ffmedic38]

Being in a volunteer department, staffing a vehicle can be an issue because you don't always know who or how many members are available to respond. In my department's situation, all members are trained for all vehicles, as opposed to being assigned to a specific unit. If the first officer into the station is one of the chief officers, then they are on the first responding unit, and yes, they are in there with their crews.

[irsqyu]

Please tell me..all of you officers..are you going INTO the structure fires with your crews?? OR are you mobile command!! Please stick with the first option.... :)

I certainly do, depending on the call, our Chief has mandated that we catch a hydrant at every call, so if we are the first pump in, I as Captain do the initial size up, assume command and with the hydrant man and driver/pump operator doing their jobs, I will do a "Rapid Attack or Rescue" with the nozzleman. Our senior officers are usually not far behind, they will be given a report via radio and assume command. he will then designate the captain inside as interior sector. This is mainly as I work at an out station and the additional trucks are a couple of minutes away, If I was at HQ and multiple vehicles are arriving together the Captain may not have to go in. Every firefighter has a portable radio. I do not totally agree with the hydrant policy(I have been here 30 years, it has changed many times) The Captain of the first in pump is the IC until relieved and should have total control according to the situation. As Blondie is alluding, I will be with my crew in most situations!

[DCharv]

At any major call the Chief or Deputy will usually respond directly to the scene. They are able to do size-up, call in necessary apparatus, set-up Command, and relay any vital information to the first in pumper. This allows the officer in the first in pumper to "pack up" and accompany his/her crew inside.

[FitSsikS]

Please tell me..all of you officers..are you going INTO the structure fires with your crews?? OR are you mobile command!! Please stick with the first option.... :)

It is interesting to note that high rise procedures still force the "first in" Capt to be part of fire attack. However at other fire calls they would like you to don an orange vest and grab a clip board.

Personally I like to be with my crew (once again, in a "1st in" situation) and I never worry about water supply. We usually give that task to the one of the numerous individuals who arrives after us.

I worked with some great Captains (rescue guys) and they were always in on the action. Now it seems as though Capts are supposed to be some kinda fire admin* guy? (*no offence Fire Code!) Greeeeaaaaaaat.:rolleyes:

[Punctualdeer]

For our place, the first station hariving on the sinist, the Lt. go's in and the second one take charge PC and the 3 thd. one goes in or do ventilation or the roof. If it go's 10.09 and up ,the chef of operation take over whit the Lt who was on PC. After that Chef distric and then director assistant.
After that it's to late...Loll